"He fills you with good and beautiful things..."

O, my soul, come, praise the Eternal

with all that is in me - body, emotions, 

mind, and will - every part of who I am - 

praise His holy name.

(Read that part a loud: "praise the Eternal with all that is in me...body, emotions, mind, and will." EVERY part of who I am - Are you praising him with reckless and free obedience?)

O my soul, come, praise the Eternal; 

sing a song from a grateful heart;

 sing and never forget all the good He 

has done.

(No matter your circumstance praise Him with a grateful heart. You may be praising Him for the breath you just inhaled and than exhaled. Praise Him for life. For His strength getting you through this day.)

Despite all your many offenses, He

forgives and releases you.

(He releases us to freedom within Him. Releases us to no longer carry the pain and guilt of our offenses.)

When your soul is famished and 

withering,

He fills you with good and beautiful 

things, satisfying you as long as you

live.

(So many times I have sat in the pew at my church thinking, "If I could just tell someone the emotions I am struggling with I would feel better." The Lord always comes to be and says, "Am I not enough to fill you? All you ultimately need is to allow me to fill you, satisfy you, and hold you in my hand. I am here for you.")

The Eternal is compassionate and merciful.

When we cross all the lines, He is

patient with us.

When we struggle against Him, He

lovingly stays with us - changing,

convicting, prodding;

He will not constantly criticize,

nor will He hold a grudge forever.

(Those times when we know we spoke out of anger and did not let the Lord work in a given moment; He redeems us. He keeps whittling away at our soul, working to shape us more and more into His image. In those times; do not spend time and energy criticizing yourself. Simply pray, "Oh Lord, I have crossed the line again. Forgive me. Teach Me. Help me rely on your strength.")

Measure how high heaven is above the 

earth;

God's wide, loving, kind heart is 

greater for those who revere Him.

(He is vast, mighty, and capable!)

Adore Him! Give Him praise, you heavenly 

messengers,

you powerful creatures who listen to

and act on His every word.

Give praise to the Eternal, all armies of

heaven-

you servants who stand ready to do

His will.

(Are we abandoning ourselves to Him - ready to do His will?)

Give praise to the Eternal, all that He has

made,

in all corners of His creation.

O my soul, come, praise the Eternal!

(He is a mighty God - worthy to be praised! Lift up a grateful heart to Him today!)

Excerpts from Psalm 103 (the Voice)